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Editorials
Wednesday, January 26, 2000Thailand is entangled
in Myanmar conflictTURMOIL in Myanmar, formerly Burma, has spilled over into Thailand with the seizure of a hospital by Myanmar rebels. Thai security forces yesterday stormed the building, killed 10 insurgents and freed patients, visitors and staff who had been held hostage.The issue: Thai security forces stormed a hospital that had been seized by Myanmar rebels.
The gunmen were identified by Thai officials as members of God's Army, a rebel group from the Karen minority. Like many Karens, the followers of God's Army are fundamentalist Christians; Myanmar is predominantly Buddhist. Adding a bizarre touch, the group is led by twin 12-year-old boys who claim to have mystical powers rendering them invincible.
The rebels came under attack inside Myanmar by government forces last week and the fighting drove 1,000 refugees into Thailand. Thai forces shelled rebel positions to deter rebels from coming across the border.
The insurgents demanded that Thailand grant refuge to civilians and combatants and stop shelling their positions in Myanmar. But the government responded with force to the hospital seizure -- as it had not in an earlier confrontation.
In October, five men from an anti-government group called the Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors took over the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok for 26 hours.
The embassy captors were allowed safe passage in exchange for the release of dozens of hos-tages. They were flown by Thai police helicopters to the border with Myanmar, where they sought shelter with God's Army.
The Myanmar regime of Gen. Khin Nyunt was outraged when Thailand allowed the embassy captors to go free. In retaliation, Myanmar closed the border for two months.
The disaffection of the Karens from the national government goes back to 1948, when Myanmar gained its independence from Britain. Promises of autonomy for the Shan and Karen states were not fulfilled, leading to armed separatist movements.
In 1962 a military coup overthrew the democratic government in Yangon (Rangoon) and established a one-party state. Since then the country has experienced international isolation, political repression and economic stagnation.
In 1988 the military killed about 3,000 pro-democracy demonstrators. Free elections were held in 1990 but the results were nullified by the regime and leaders of the elected government, including Aung San Suu Kyi, placed under house arrest.
The following year she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, which focused international attention on Myanmar's problems but did not result in enough pressure on the military regime to force it to end its repression.
Thailand, which has had its own experiences with military rule, is now finding itself involuntarily involved in Myanmar's conflicts.
The latest incident indicates that the Bangkok government has decided it cannot tolerate further incursions by the rebels. But more border incidents can be expected until Myanmar comes to terms with the insurgents. Myanmar's fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should exert pressure on Myanmar to make peace and end its repression.
Pence’s departure
from federal benchMARTIN Pence has been a federal judge in Honolulu since the opening years of statehood. His resignation at the end of this month will conclude a distinguished career at the age of 95.
Arriving in Hawaii in 1930, the Kansas-born Pence worked as a claims adjuster before beginning his law practice on the Big Island, quickly becoming a Democratic leader on a predominantly Republican island. He was elected county attorney in 1938 and remained in that position until President Truman appointed him as a territorial circuit judge in 1945. Pence resigned five years later to return to private practice but was recalled to the bench when President Kennedy appointed him in 1961 to one of the two U.S. district judgeships that came with statehood.
Pence built a reputation for exuding common sense while presiding over the thousands of cases that came before him, and a cantankerous sarcasm that left more than one lawyer crawling from the courtroom. His expertise in presiding over antitrust cases led to his designation as the chief judge of the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in handling antitrust actions.
The federal courthouse adjoining the Prince Kuhio Federal Office Building deserves to be regarded as the house that Pence built. Pence opposed a plan to put the courts on the top of the office building, and he prevailed.
"He was the chief judge, and he said if you don't build it my way, we won't move," Senior District Judge Samuel King recalled.
That was one way Martin Pence left his mark on the local legal community, but there was much more.
Published by Liberty Newspapers Limited PartnershipRupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor
